Bert's Alerts - October 14, 2016

Andrew Castro knows how life changing a long-distance move can be. At eight years old, Castro’s parents relocated him and his four siblings 2,500 miles from White Plains, New York to Nampa, Idaho. Although it was a big undertaking, it provided a lifestyle change the family was looking for.

Fast forward 11 years, Castro has embarked on another 2,000-plus mile journey that could also have life-long impact. The College of Western Idaho (CWI) sophomore was selected to spend the fall semester working as an intern for United States Senator Jim Risch in Washington, D.C. Castro is one of just three students selected for the internship, and the only one currently attending a community college.

“I saw the email and my heart nearly exploded,” Castro recalls. “I was certainly enthusiastic and humbled.”

While Castro was surprised to receive the news, his resume certainly made him a strong candidate. The CWI Political Science major graduated from Columbia High School in 2015 with a 3.9 grade point average. He served as president of the school’s Theatre Club, while also being elected Student Body President as a senior and student representative three times. As if that weren’t enough, as a senior he also competed on Columbia’s speech and debate team.

“I loved serving as a sort of liaison between those above me and the students I represented. Columbia, and its amazing leadership and faculty as a whole, helped to nurture my passions and talents.”

His experience serving others inspired Castro to pursue a career in public office. Although his current political opportunity didn’t come without a push from one of his instructors at CWI.

“I was hesitant to give up my comfort in Nampa, Idaho to pursue my goals in Washington, D.C.  Without [CWI Assistant Professor] Rob Harbaugh’s persistence I can say for sure I would not be here because I did not first seek the internship; in many ways, the internship found me. Rob has been beyond influential and has served as a mentor beyond compare. This internship materialized because of Rob’s diligence.”

Thanks to Harbaugh’s encouragement Castro applied and completed the interview process. The rest is history. Through incredible fundraising support from his friends and family, Castro is living in D.C. through mid-December. He is excited for the opportunities that will be realized in the next few months.

“Such an experience will open many connections to the D.C. area that can be utilized later in my life. I want to pursue a political science degree and eventually serve in elected office. Whether that’s the people of Idaho, or perhaps in a broader context, I know the possibilities have only begun.”

When Castro returns to campus, he expects to have one semester left. He plans to compete with CWI’s Speech and Debate team in the spring. Castro hasn’t decided where he will transfer but he is confident he will be fully prepared for wherever life takes him next; regardless if it is near or far.

“I've enjoyed my education from [CWI]. My classes thus far have helped challenge my writing abilities and critical thinking all the while helping me to better understand why it is I believe what I believe. I can't think of a better goal from a college than that.”

On Saturday, Oct. 1, Treasure Valley citizen scientists gathered at Martin’s Landing in Parma at the confluence of the Snake and Boise Rivers to monitor water quality. Martin’s Landing was one of more than a dozen sites monitored as part of Watershed Watch, an annual community event organized by the Boise WaterShed Environmental Education Center. Many of the 45 attendees in Parma were students from College of Western Idaho (CWI) invited by site trainer environmental chemist Rebecca Flock, a Treasure Valley native and faculty at CWI.

The event kicked off by getting into the mud and collecting bugs. Karen Strickler, a Parma resident and CWI biology instructor, helped teams collect aquatic plants, insects, and other macroinvertebrates. Groups checked for invasive species known to cause problems with biodiversity. They also looked for native species uniquely adapted to Idaho’s river ecosystems.

Linda Phillips, representing Parma Research and Extension Center as well as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, demonstrated how erosion can reduce water clarity and quality. Students were awed as the dirt clod from a highly tilled soil rained down tiny dust particles and muddied the water, meanwhile a dirt clod from an un-tilled garden stayed perfectly intact. Students could see that preserving our rivers is closely linked with taking care of the soils throughout the Boise River Watershed.

Bryan Hess, another CWI Chemistry faculty member, gave a demonstration about dissolved gasses and sent teams to measure for water quality parameters of dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH. Flock wrapped up the morning's events with nitrate and phosphorus measurement, nutrient pollutants that have been known to be an issue in the Boise River. Excess nutrients in the water can cause excessive algae growth and potentially mobilize toxins at downstream locations. Flock observed, “We affect each other, and are connected to each other, through our waterways.”

“Our goal with Watershed Watch is to raise community awareness about the health of the Boise River and how we can keep it clean for future generations," said Cindy Busche, education coordinator with the Boise WaterShed. 

The data gathered by the citizen scientists will be posted on the Watershed Watch website and may be used by regulatory agencies in their water-quality analyses. The event is co-sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Reclamation, Partners for Clean Water, SUEZ, the cities of Meridian and Caldwell, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

To get involved in future events, contact rebeccaflock@cwi.edu or visit www.BoiseWatershedWatch.org.

The public is invited to College of Western Idaho (CWI) for a special guest lecture by renowned forensic science expert Dr. Greg Hampikian, executive director of the Idaho Innocence Project. Dr. Hampikian will visit CWI on Wednesday (Oct. 19) for a presentation on the use of forensic DNA to exonerate innocent people on death row. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. in room 201E of CWI’s Nampa Campus Academic Building.

Dr. Hampikian is a Biology and Criminal Justice professor at Boise State University. He has worked on more than a dozen exonerations throughout his career; both in the United States and internationally. Hampikian has been featured on several national television shows, including CBS’s 48 Hours.

College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Career Services will help students and community members connect with job opportunities at CWI’s 2016 Fall Job Fair. The event is open to the public and will focus on seasonal employment and jobs that may be ideal for students working their way through school. The fair, which is presented in partnership with the Idaho Department of Labor, will take place:

Friday, Oct. 21
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CWI’s Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building
View Map

Over 50 employers have registered for the job fair. Job seekers at the event will also have the opportunity to learn about resources from CWI and Idaho Department of Labor. Attendees are encouraged to take their resume and be prepared to interview with employers. Please email loriyellen@cwi.edu with any questions.

College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Inclusive Excellence committee would like to introduce CWI's new diversity webpage, located at cwi.edu/info/diversity. The webpage offers information in regards to diversity efforts at CWI, including bios on committee members, resources, college demographics, and a calendar of events. Resources are related to:

• Campus
• Community
• Policies
• Teaching Diversity and Inclusion   

Please contact diversitycommittee@cwi.edu with any questions.